Rotary multicontact device



Nov. 2l, 1950 c. F. MATTKE 2,530,891

ROTARY MULTICONTACT DEVICE Filed Jan. 2, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATOR/VEY Nov. 21, 1950 c. F. MATTKE 2,530,891

ROTARY 'MULTICONTACT DEVICE Filed Jah. 2, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5);). QCQC W ATTORNEY Patented Nov. Z1, Y195() ROTARY MULTICONTACT DEVICE Charles F. Mattke, Jackson Heights, N. Y., assignor to Bell Telephone/Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 2, 1948, Serial No. 111

This invention relates to multicontact devices and more particularly to a multicontact device which is well adapted for use, for example, in a radio signaling apparatus of the type disclosed in a copending application Serial No. 763,968 filed July 26, 1947 in the name of C. F. Mattke.

In said application a radio signaling device is disclosed in which a stationary cylindricallyshaped casing section is yprovided for rotatably mounting a second casing section in the form of a turntable on which an energy reflector is mounted together with its electrical controlling apparatus, and scanning mechanism, such an arrangement necessitating the use of a great number of wire connections extending from terminals on banks located in the stationary casing section or support to the turntable, and to the electrical apparatus carried by such turntable, while permitting the operation of the turntable relative to the stationary casing section either Vclockwise or counterclockwise from a few degrees to a number of continued unidirectional revolutions.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a multicontact device for use in a radio signaling apparatus of the type above-mentioned which will be simple in construction :and in which connections between the different sets of relatively movable wires are effected in an efficient and positive manner.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is an assembly view shown with a number of parts in vertical longitudinal section;

Fig. 2 isan assembly View in perspective shown with a number of operating parts with portions broken away;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 3--3 of Fig. l; and

6 claims. (o1. 173-324) The strips lll which are constructed of insulating material, form in cooperation Iwith the arms of spider-shaped memberiii, conduits for sets of v wires as WI, W2, W3, We, W5 and W6 as best shown in Figs. l and 4. Y,

Each spider-shaped member i is provided With a drilled hole l5 for receiving one end of a wire in a group as Wl in Fig. 4 leading to a so-called pigtail lead I5 to which this end of the Wire is connected as by soldering. The ends of lead I6 are connected to' movable contact members il, ily longitudinally movable in guiding elements formed in two diametrically disposed arms of its respective spider-shaped member It. An arcuate spring i8 is provided with a bent portion forming a tab as I8 fitted into a drilled hole-in the spider member li) and its opposite ends tensioned against the slldable arms ll, ily for forcing them in contacting relation with their respectively as- 2'0 sociated conducting ring 2li, while a circular recess, as 2l, is formed in each spider member to Vone side thereof for receiving the pigtail connector I6 and the spring I8.

The wires of each set Wl, W2, W3, etc. extend from their respective connectors I6 to the upper disposed end of the rotor element into an annular Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. l,

According to the construction of the multicontact device of this invention, a rotor element consists of a plurality of spider-shaped members l@ of insulating material mounted in superposed relation to each other on a hollow shaft il and clamped securely in a pile-up arrangement between a collar portion i3 formed at the top disposed end of this shaft and ya, nut I2 engaging a similar screw-threaded portion at the lower disposed end of hollow shaft l i. These spidershaped members are held against movement relative to each other by a plurality of arcuateshaped strips M having their longitudinal edgesv fitted in adjacently disposed notches in the arms of the spider-shaped members as best seen in Fig. 4.

opening formed by the inside diameter of a ring member 2 I il and the periphery of a sleeve 22 tted on hollow shaft l l and into respective openings in fa, mounting plate or disc 23 for connection With respective terminals 2Q disposed in sets in respective plugs as Mw shown in Figs. l and 2, these plugs being secured in radial position to the wall of a cylindrically-sha-ped casing I2@ by a plurality of screws 25 and to a dust guard |25 which is in turn secured to the cylindrical casing |26 as by a plurality of screws 26, while a number of screws Zy secure the cylindrical housing to the mounting plate or disc 23 formedwith an arm y having its free end portion secured to a cup-shaped casing l2@ as by a screw 239:.

The stator element consists of a plurality of conducting rings 2@ above-mentioned and a plurality of rings 2l of insulating material disposed in alternate superposed relation to each other and clamped in adjusted position between two ilat 1 and 2 mounted on downwardly extending supporting strips ST, having their upper disposed ends secured to the hub portion of a disc 34 as by a number of Screws 65. These wires extend upwardly in a circular row in an annular space formed by a tubing 33 having its lower disposed end securedas vbyfsoldering over the periphery of disc member 34. This disc is provided with a bore centrally thereof for receiving the reduced porftion or" a ring 36 to which the flat ring vmember 26 is secured as by a plurality of screws 3T, the ring 36 serving for mounting a ball bearing 3.9V the inner ring of which is tted over kthe lower end of hollow shaft for holding the rotor and stator elements in concentric relation to each other at this end.

Onto the nat ring member 29 which in cooperation with flat ring 28 serves for clamping the conducting rings 2l) is superposed relation to each other is secured, as by a number of screws 40, a cup-shaped ring 4| into Whichis fitted the outer ring of a ball bearing 42, the inner'ring of which is fitted over Athe periphery of ring 2|, in turn secured to the mounting plate or disc 23 by a plurality-of screws 43. The ball bearing 42 vserves for holding the stator and rotor elements in concentric relation at this end, while a-dust guard in the form of a fiat ring 44 is secured to ring 4| by a plurality of screws 45x. A plurality of screws,

as 45, threadedly engage into respective arms, asl

36, extending upwardly from tubing 33 for holding the latter in abutting relation with the insulatingr ring 49 to form a leak-proof joint therebetween.

The wires 3| at the pointl adjacent the underside of dat ring 2S are bent into respective radially disposed notches 43 formed in the insulating ring 49 at the top disposed edge thereof and bent back in parallel relation into a common annular space formed by the periphery Aof the conducting rings 26 and the insulating rings 27|- thus assembled, and the interior of tubing 33 for connection with respective conducting rings at the periphery thereof as by soldering at a point as Y :shown in Figs. l and 4.

The contact assembly thus constructed of the rotor and stator elements is disposed in a cylindrically-shaped casing Sly having longitudinally equally disposed .notches N, Fig. 2, at its` upper disposed end for receiving the arms 46 carried by tubing 33, while the lower disposed end of the contact assembly is held in concentric relation inthe cylindrical housing Bly by a plurality of pins 35 also serving for keying the tubingv 33 to the disc member 36 prior to the soldering operation.

A nut |23 which is tted to the top disposed end` .of tubular housing 3|y serves for tensionl;

ing the spring washers |23` against the inner disposed ring of ball bearing |22 fitted into the cupshaped casing in superposed relation to a thrust bearing I2! shown in Fig. l, the tension of the spring washers |23 'being exerted against a collar 66 formed at the lower disposed end of the tubular housing 35g/ and tted in a bore in the sleeve portion 24g; of the stationary support 23:0, the tubular housing Sly being held against rotation in the sleeve 243/ by a set screw 62 iitted in a key way inthe cylindrical housing 3| y.

According to this construction the tension of spring washers |23 serves to hold the turntable 4|y in rm frictional contact with its driving 4 rollers 35x as set forth in the copending application above-mentioned.

A tubing member 66 extends in concentric relation to hollow shaft- Il with its lower disposed end secured as by soldering into an opening drilled centrally of disc 34. Tubing 66 in cooperation With tubing 33 and disc member 34 forms a container adapted to be filled with oil to a small distance beyond the slip ring assembly for the lubrication of the bearings 39 and that of the contacts formed by the conducting rings 20 and the conducting arms Il, tubing 66 in addition serving as a guide for a coaxial cable 6T `extending to ay rotary joint 68 connecting with a conductor 6.9 leading to the electrical apparatus not shown and which forms no part of the present invention.

In the operation of the multicontact device of this invention, the rotation of the turntable lily relative to stationary supporting casing section 24x is impartedfto theI mounting plate or disc 23 through its arm 23g securedl to the cup-shaped casing |20 as by screws 23m. Rotation of mounting rplate 23 and the plugs Zilw carried thereby is imparted to the rotor element thus constructed through a spline engagement of shaft with mounting plate 23, while the stator element as above-mentioned is held from rotation by the set screw 62, engaging the key way formed at. j the periphery of tubular casing 3 ly which isfitted in the hub 24g formed with the base of the stationary cylindrical casing section.

What is claimed is:

1. A multicontact device comprising a shaft, aA plurality of spider-shaped insulating elementsV mounted in superposed relation on said shaft, means for collectively securing the arms of said spider-shaped elements in adjusted angular rela-` to each other, and conducting means carried byl said arms for engaging Said conducting rings.

2. In a radio signaling system having a stationary cylindrically-shaped base and a turntable mounted for rotation thereon, the table supporting the radio signaling apparatus, a multicontact device comprising a stator element supported by the stationary support, a rotor element mounted for operation in position concentric to said stator element and actuated by the movement of the turntable, said rotor element comprising a shaft and spider-shaped insulating elements mounted on said shaft, said stator element comprising a plurality of insulating rings and a plurality of rings of conducting material mounted in superposed relation to each other,v

conductor members carried by the arms. of said spider-shaped insulating elements, and spring means tensioned against said conductor members to cause the latter to engage with said cona plurality of insulating and conducting rings disposed in superposed relation to each other concentric to said spider-shaped members, one of said conducting rings for each of said spidershaped members, means for collectively securing said insulating and said conducting rings in superposed alternate relation to each other in engageable relation with said contact elements, insulating means for holding said spider-shaped members against movement relative to each other, said insulating means cooperating with the arms of said spider-shaped members to form conduits for sets of Wires having one of their ends connecting with said contact members, and means for connecting another set of Wires With said conducting rings respectively.

4. A multicontact device comprising a rotatable shaft, an insulating member mounted on said shaft for rotary movement therewith, a pair of longitudinally aligned guiding means carried by said member, a circular channel formed in said insulating member connecting With said guiding means, a contact member mounted for sliding movement in each of said guiding means, a stationary ring of conducting material disposed for engagement by said contacts, resilient means disposed in said circular channel for effecting a predetermined contact pressure between said contacts and said conductor ring and means disposed in said circular channel electrically connecting said oblong-shaped contacts.

5. A multicontact device comprising a disc having a centrally disposed opening, a tubing having one of its ends secured into the opening of said disc, a tubing having one of its ends secured to the periphery of said disc in concentric relation with the first-mentioned tubing, a hollow shaft mounted for rotation in concentric relation to the rst and second-mentioned tubings, a plurality of contacts insulatedly carried by said shaft, a plurality of rings of conducting material, one for each pair of said contacts mounted in superposed relation in concentric relation to said rst and second-mentioned tubings, said tubings cooperating with said disc to form a lubricant container into which said contacts move relative to said conducting rings.

6. In a radio signaling apparatus having a circular stationary base, a table for the signaling apparatus mounted for rotation on the base, a hub member extending perpendicularly from the base at the center thereof, and a cup-shaped casing mounted for rotary movement as a unit with the turntable, a, multicontact device comprising a cylindrically-shaped casing keyed into said hub member and extending in concentric relation to the cup-shaped member, a rotor element having means operatively connecting with the cupshaped member, a shaft for said rotor element keyed to said means, a plurality of spider-shaped members securely mounted on said shaft in superposed relation to each other, means for holding said members in aligned relation on said shaft, a pair of movable contacts carried by each of said spider-shaped members, a stator element having a plurality of conducting rings disposed for engagement by said movable contacts at diametrically opposite points thereof and Wire connectors extending from said conducting rings and said contacts. i

CHARLES F. MATTKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,596,557 Scholes Aug. 17, 1926 1,649,276 Adam Nov. 15, 1927 2,309,316 Hollander Jan. 26, 1943 2,323,575 Snowberger July 6, 1943 2,376,370 Lombardi May 22, 1945 2,436,949 Anderson Mar. 2, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 22,138 England of 1911 317,313 Germany Dec. 17, 1919 

